Railway traffic controlling system



Nov. 19, 1935. G. H. WION RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM wwwulmn PIW 8 6 Filed Oct. 28, 1932 INVENTOR' Q BY W15 Z; ATTORN'EY Patented Nov. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,021,846 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM 'George H. Wion, Rochester, "N. Y., assignor to General Railway 'Signal Company, Rochester,

Application October 28, 1932, Serial No. 640,066

11 Claims. (Cl.246-3) This invention relates to traffic controlling systems for railroads, and more particularly per-' tains to the remote control and indication of power operated track switches in interlocking sys- -tems.

The present invention proposes to combine a control and indication system for a railroad track switch in such a manner that a switch position repeating relay WP will indicate both the posi- Hl tion and the locked condition of the track switch together with the correspondence between the position of the track switch and its remote control relay. The present invention provides a novel manner in which a switch position repeating re- 35 .lay WP, controlled as above mentioned, may be employed with a plurality of track switches and remote control relays therefore, so as to employ a minimum number of line wires and to check all important line wires, jumpers and contacts 20 in a manner that a failure of any consequence will be self detecting.

Various other features, advantages and characteristic functions of the present invention will be in part apparent from the accompanying drawing, and in part pointed out as the description thereof progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in a simplified and diagrammatic man- 39 nor the circuits and parts of a switch machine control and indication system embodying the present invention as applied to the control of a cross-over for one typical illustration of the practical application of the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, two main tracks A and B are interconnected by a cross-over having track switches TS and TS at its opposite ends. The track switches are indicated as being respectively operated by switch machines SM and 5M which may be of any suitable type such as disclosed for example, in the patent to W. K. Howe, 1,466,903, dated September 4, 1923.

Associated with each switch machine and its 45 track switch is preferably a suitable point detector contact mechanism, such as mechanisms PD and PD These point detector contact mechanisms may be of any suitable type, such as shown for example in the patent .to C. SQBushnell, N0.

50 1,517,238, dated November 25, 1924. For convenience in describing the presentinvention, each point detector-is shown as having six movable contacts, each of which has three fixed contacts to indicate the three positions of the movable contacts. The movable contacts of eachpoint detector mechanism are jointly operated by its respective track switch and switch machine so as to assumenormal or reverse extreme positions when-the track switch is in a normal or reverse position respectively and locked by the switch 5 machine, so as to assume intermediate or midstroke positions whenever the track switch is being operatedby its switch maohine or whenever the track switch isunlocked. The movable contacts are shown in theirnormal positions.

Associated with the switch machines SM and SM are controlrelaysWli. and WR respec-' tively, of the two-position polarized type. In other words, the contacts of each'of these polar relays are operated to opposite positions by the application-ofpotential of opposite polarities and are held in their last operated positions by some suitable means suchas a magnetic stick type structure or a suitable mechanical toggle device. One relay providing these characteristics has been disclosed, for example, in the pending ap-. plication of J. F. Merkel, Ser. No. 536,917, filed May 12, 1931. V

These remote control relays are indicated as being controlled by a single switchmachine contr'ol' lever SML located in a suitable tower or control ofiice designated 0 0. This control of the polar relays by a lever may be of any suitable type employed either with mechanical interlocked levers or with the so called free levers, all of which is unnecessary for an understanding of the present invention. It is also to be understood that suitable detector locking, approach locking and such other features of an interlockingsystem as are usually employed may be associated with the switch machines SM and 8M and the switch machine control lever SML, as desired, so as to provide adequate protection for the operation of trains over the track switches TS and TS all of which will be well understood by those skilled 40 in the art and need not-be set forth in this connection.

A switch repeating or position indicating relay WP of theusual polar-neutral type is provided to indicate the position of the track switches with I its control circuits governed by the point detector contacts PD and PD together with contacts of the remote control relays WR and WR This relay maybe located at the switch machines for selecting circuits thereat or it may be located in the tower for the selection of any desired circuits. It is to be understood in this connection that the relay WP may be employed for the selection of signal circuits, the release or operation of suitable indication latch. mechanisms on the switch control lever, or for any other purposes which may require a repeater of the track switches.

Preferably associated with track switches TS and T6 are the usual detector track sections having track batteries and the usual track relays as well as suitable signals for governing traffie thereover, but all of these devices and usual features of traffic controlling systems have been omitted for the sake of simplyfying the disclosure of the present invention.

For the purpose of energizing the switch position repeating relay WP through its control circuits, a suitable battery BT has been illustrated, but it is to be understood that any suitable source, either A. C. or D. C. may be provided for energizing this relay WP and may be located either in the control ofiice or at the track switch layout without affecting the scope of the'present invention. The sources of current for the switch machines SM and 8M have been indicated by the symbols and It is believed that the nature of the invention, its advantages and characteristic features can be best understood with further description being set forth from the standpoint of operation.

Operation With the switch machine control lever SML in a normal position, as illustrated, the contacts of the switch control relays WR and WE are also in their normal upper positions. It is to be understood in this connection that the relays WR (with suitable exponents) are of the usual two-position stay where put type, their contacts being shown in horizontal positions merely for the purpose of simplifying the circuits. With the contacts of relays WR. and WR, in normal positions, the switch machines SM and 8M are in corresponding normal positions locking the track switches TS and TSZ. This normal locked condition of the track switches is repeated by their point detector contacts PD and PD respectively.

Thus, with the relays WR and WR assuming normal positions together with the point detector contacts PD and PD assuming normal positions, a normal energizing circuit for the switch repeating relay WP is closed from the positive terminal of the battery BT through a circuit including wires l and 2, polar contact 3 of relay WR in a normal position, wire 4, movable contact 5 of point detector contact mechanism P13 in a normal position, wire 6, polar contact 1 of relay WR in a normal position, wire 8, movable contact 9 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wire I0, windings of relay WP, wires H and I2, movable contact iii of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires l4 and I5, movable contact l6 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires l1, 18, 3|, I9 and 20, movable contact 2! of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires 22 and 23, movable contact 24 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires 25, 2B, 30 and 21, to the negative terminal of battery ET.

This energization of the relay WP causes its polar contacts to be actuated to right hand positions and its neutral contacts to be actuated to energized or picked up positions to thereby select such circuits as may be desired, in accordance with the normal positions of the track switches TS and TS in correspondance with their re mote control relays WR and WR Whenever the operator desires to operate the track switches TS and T8 for routing traffic over the cross-over (if it be safe to do so), he moves the lever SML to the opposite position which reverses the polarity applied to the relays 5 WR. and WRP.

Assuming that the operator move the lever SML to the reverse position and that relays W3 and WR respond by actuating their contacts to reverse positions, and assuming that it is safe for movement of track switches, the switch machines SM and SM operate to first unlock their respective track switches TS and TS and then operate them to reverse locked positions.

The operation of the switch machines SM and SM is controlled by the contacts 28 and 29 respectively of the relays WR and WR respectively. When the contacts are in normal positions positive energy is applied to the normal operating circuits of the switch machines, but when these contacts are in reverse positions positive energy is applied to the reverse operating circuits of the switch machines. The normal and reverse operating circuit of each switch machine causes the corresponding operation of that switch machine, and is opened at the end of each such operation.

As soon as the relays WR and WR respond to such operation of the lever SML and prior to the response of the switch machines in operating 30 their corresponding track switches to unlocked positions, the relay WP is de-energized by reason of the opening of its circuit at polar contact 3 of relay WR and at polar contact 2 of relay WR both in reverse positions. In other words, the response of either one or both of these relays causes the de-energization of the relay WP and the shunting thereof.

For example, let us first assume that the relay WR. responds to the reverse operation of the lever SML but the relay WE, does not respond. In this case, the energizing circuit for the relay WP is opened and its winding. is shunted by a circuit closed from its right hand terminal, through wires H and I2, movable contact [3 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires [4 and I5, movable contact 16 of point detector mechanism PD in a normal position, wires I1, I8, 35, I9 and 2t, movable contact 2! of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires 22 and 23, movable contact 24 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires 25, 2t and 30, polar contact 3 of relay WR in a reverse position, wire 6, movable contact 5 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wire i3, polar contact I of relay WR, in a normal position (failed to respond), wire 8 movable contact 9 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wire iii, to the left hand terminal of relay WP.

If, on the other hand, the relay WR responds and the relay WR. fails to respond, or if they both respond, a shunt circuit is closed for the relay WP from its right hand terminal through Wires II and I2, movable contact 53 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires l4 and I5, movable contact it of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wires ll, 18 and (ii, polar contact "I of relay WR in a reverse position, wire 8, movable contact 9 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a normal position, wire it, to the left hand terminal of relay WP.

Returning to the case where relay WR fails to are moved to their central positions.

respond and relay WR, responds, then during the operation of the track switch TS", the pointdetector contact mechanism assumes a mid-stroke or unlocked position completing another shunt 1 circuit for the relay WP. This shunt circuit is lay Wl't in a normal position (failed to respond), wire 8, movable contact 9 of point detector contact mechanism in a normal position, wire it, to the left hand terminal of the relay WP. This same shunt circuit is 5 closed even after the track switch TS is operated to a full reverse locked position, as the movable contact 33 then in a reverse position still makes contact between wires 32 and 34.

Assuming the normal operation where both the relays WR and WR respond, followed by the response of the respective track switches, the relay WP is first shunted by the polar contact 1 of relay WR and then by the contacts of the point detector contact mechanism PD as its contacts In this case, the relay WP is shunted from its right hand terminal through wires II and i2 movable contact i3 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a mid-stroke position, wire i4, movable contact 35 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a mid-stroke position, wires 33 and iii, to the left hand terminal of the relay WP. This shunt circuit for the relay WP is closed whenever the track switch Ts is in operation or whenever it is unlocked regardless of whether it is being operated or for someother reason.

Whenever the track switches TS and T8 are operated to their full reverse positions in correspondence with their remote control relays WR and WR. as set up by the lever SML in a reverse position, the point detectormechanisms PD and PD operate their movable contacts to extreme reverse positions and the reverse energizing circuit for the relay WP is then closed. This reverse energizing circuit for relay WP is closed from the positive terminal of battery BT, through wires I and 38, polar contact 39 of relay WR in a reverse position, wire 43, movable contact 4| of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wire 42, polar contact 43 of relay WR in a reverse position, wire 44, movable contact 45 of point detector contactmechanism PD in a reverse position, wire ll, windings of relay WP, wires 53 and 33, movable contact 35 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires l4 and 46, movable contact of point detector contact PD in a reverse position, Wires 48,- it, 3|, i9 and 32, movable contact 33 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 34.and49, movable contact 53 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 5!, 26, 30 and 21, to the negative terminal of battery ET.

This energization of the relay WP causes its polar contacts to be actuated to left hand positions and its neutral contacts to be actuated to energized or picked up positions to suitably select such circuits as may be desired.

It is believed that the operation from the reverse position to the normal position of the track switches, and the shunting circuits set up under various circumstances will be readily understood by analogy to the operation already described, as such operation is merely an inverse function of the operation from the normal position to the reverse position.

However, for making the description more complete, certain shunting circuits for the relay WP, which exist under the operating conditions when the track switches are being operated from reverse positions to normal positions, will be pointed out.

Assuming that the relay WR fails to respond and its contacts remain in reverse position, but the relay WR, responds operating its contacts to normal positions, then prior to the response of the point detector contacts PD a shunt circuit is closed from the right hand terminal of the relay WP, through acircuit including wire I I, movable contact 45 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wire 44, polar contact 43 of relay WR in a reverse position (failed to respond), wire 42, movable contact 4| of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wire 40, polar contact 39 of relay WPt in a normal position, wires 26 and 5i, movable contact 50 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 43 and 34, movable contact 33 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 32, i3, 3!, l8 and 48, movable contact 41 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 46 and I4, movable contact 35 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 36 and ill, to the left hand terminal of the relay WP.

Upon the response of the switch machine SM and the unlocking of the track switch T8 the point detector contact mechanism PD completes another shunt circuit for the relay WP irrespective of the contacts of the relay WR For example, this shunt circuit is closed from the right hand terminal of the relay WP, through a circuit including wire ll, movable contact 45 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wire 44, polar contact 43 of relay WR in a reverse position (failed to respond), wires 42 and 22, movable contact 2! of point detector contact mechanism PD in a mid-stroke position, wires 20, 19, 3|, l8 and 48, movable contact 41 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 46 and i4, movable contact 35 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 33 and Ill, to the left hand terminal of the relay WP. This same shunt circuit is closed for the relay WP even after the track switch TS has been completely returned to its normal position as the movable contact 2i continues to interconnect the wires 20 and 22 when it is in a full normal position.

Assuming that the relay WR responds as intended, and that the relay WR dOes or does not respond to the return of the lever SML to a normal position, then a shunt circuit is completed by the contact 43 of relay WlFt until the track switch TS has been unlocked, at which time another shunt circuit is completed, as previously pointed out, which circuit is completed whenever the track switch TS is unlocked or in operation.

' O The shunt circuit completed by the polar con- 7 tact 43 of the relay WR prior to the unlocking of the track switch TS is closed from the right hand terminal of the relay WP, through a circuit including wire ll, movable contact 45 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wire 44, polar contact 43 of relay WR in a normal position, wires I8 and 48, movable contact 41 of point detector contact mechanism PD in a reverse position, wires 46 and I4, movable contact 35 of point detector contact mech anism PD in a reverse position, wires 36 and Hi, to the left hand terminal of the relay WP.

It will be noted that whenever a shunt circuit is completed for the relay WP that its neutral contacts assume de-energized positions but its polar contacts remain in their last operated positions in accordance with the characteristics of the usual polar neutral relay. Also, it will be noted, that, whenever a shunt circuit is applied to the relay WP, the contact mechanism which completes the shunt circuit also removes the potential supplied from the battery BT, so as to prevent a short circuit on the battery source.

An indication system for a railway power operated track switch has been shown and described wherein the relay WP not only indicates the position of the track switches with which it is associated, but also the correspondence of the track switches with their respective remote control relays. This is accomplished with a minimum number of line wires interconnecting the several track switches.

It is to be understood that the relay WP is connected by two linewires to the first point detector contact mechanism, and to each successive point detector contact mechanism by three line wires irrespective of the number of such successive connections. In other words, only two detector mechanisms have been shown in series but it is to be understood that any number of such detector mechanisms can be employed in series.

Having thus described an indication system for a railway track system as one specific embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be un derstood that this form is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms which it may assume; and, it is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form shown to meet the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except as limited by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a trafiic controlling system for railroads, a plurality of track switches, a switch machine for operating each track switch, a point detector contact mechanism associated with each track switch for assuming normal or reverse positions when its track switch is in corresponding locked positions, a remotely controlled relay for governing each of said switch machines, a switch position indicating relay, and energizing circuits for said switch position indicating relay closed when and only when said track switches and their respective point detector contact mechanisms and remotely controlled relays are all in corresponding positions.

2. In a control and indication system for railroad track switches, a plurality of track switches, switch contacts associated with each switch and operable to normal and reverse positions, a control relay for each track switch, each of said control relays having contacts for governing its corresponding track switch and for indicating its position, and an indication relay energized when and only when said switch contacts and said control relay indication contacts all assume corresponding positions.

3. In a control and indication system for rail road track switches, a plurality of track switches, switch contacts associated with each of said track switches and operable to normal, reverse or mid-stroke positions, a switch machine for each of said track switches, a control relay for each of said switch machines, said control relay having contacts operable to normal or reverse positions, a switch position repeating relay, energizing circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed when and only when said switch contacts for every track switch and said control relay contacts for every switch machine assume corresponding normal or reverse positions, and shunt circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed whenever any of said switch contacts assume mid-stroke positions or whenever any of said control relay contacts are out-ofcorrespondence with their respective switch contacts.

4. In a control and indication system for railroad track switches; a first track switch; a first switch machine for operating said first track switch to normal or reverse locked extreme positions; a first remotely controlled relay having contacts operable to normal or reverse extreme positions, said first remotely controlled relay governing the normal or reverse operation of said first switch machine; a first point detector contact mechanism associated with said first track switch and said first switch machine and having contacts operable to normal or reverse extreme positions when said first track switch is in corresponding normal or reverse extreme positions and locked and having contacts assuming mid-stroke positions whenever said first track switch is in midstroke or is unlocked; a second track switch; a second switch machine for operating said second track switch to normal or reverse locked extreme positions; a second remotely controlled relay having contacts operable to normal or reverse extreme positions, said second remotely controlled relay governing the normal or reverse operation of said second switch machine; a second point detector contact mechanism associated with said second track switch and said second switch machine and having contacts operable to normal or reverse extreme positions when said second track switch is in corresponding normal or reverse extreme positions and locked and having contacts assuming midstroke positions whenever said second track switch is in mid-stroke or is unlocked; a polarneutral switch position repeating relay having contacts operable to normal energized positions when energized with one polarity and operable to reverse energized positions when energized with the opposite polarity; a source of energy, a normal energizing circuit for said switch position repeating relay closed through said contacts of said first point detector contact mechanism in normal positions, said contacts of said first remote control relay in normal positions, said con- I tacts of said second point detector contact mechanism in normal positions, and said contacts of said second remote control relay in normal positions, and including said source, whereby said switch position repeating relay is energized with one polarity; a reverse energizing circuit for said switch position repeating relay closed through said contacts of said first point detector contact mechanism in reverse positions, said contacts of said first remote control relay in reverse positions, said contacts of said second point detector contact mechanisms in reverse positions, said contacts of said second remote control relay in reverse positions, and including said source, whereby said switchlposition repeating relay is energized with the opposite polarity; and shunt circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed whenever either or both of said first and second point detector contact mechanisms assume mid-stroke positions or when'any of said point detector contacts and said remote control relay contacts are out of corresponding positions.

5. In a control and indication system for rail road track switches, a plurality of track switches, a switch machine for operating each of said track switches, a controlrelay for governing the operation of each of said switch machines, a manually operable control lever for governing the operation of said control relays, a point detector contact mechanism associated with each of said track switches, each of said point detector contactmechanisms having contacts jointly operated by its track switch and corresponding switch machine so as to indicate the normal and reverse locked positions of that track switch, and means indicating the correspondence between all of said track switches and their corresponding control relays, said means including said point detector contact mechanisms. 7

6. In a traffic control system for railroads, a plurality of track switches, switch contacts indicating the normal or reverse positions of said track switches, control and operating means for each of said track switches, an indication relay, energizing circuits for said indication relay closed only when all of said track switches and their respective control and indication means assume corresponding positions, and circuits selected by said indication relay.

7. In a control and indication system for railroad-track switches; a plurality of track switches;

switch contacts associated with each of said track v switches and operable to normal, reverse or midstroke positions; a switch machine for each of said track switches; a control relay for each of said switch machines, said control relay having contacts operable to normal or reverse positions; a switch position repeating relay, energizing circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed when and only when said switch contacts for each track switch and said control relay contacts for each switch machine assume corresponding normal or reverse positions; and shunt circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed whenever any of said switch contacts assume mid-stroke positions, said shunt circuits being at times included in said energizing circuits for said switch position repeating relay.

. 8. In a control and indication system for railroad track switches; a plurality of track switches; switch contacts associated with each of said track switches and operable to normal reverse or mid-stroke positions; a switch machine for each of said track switches, a control relay for each of said switch machines, said control relay having contacts operable to normal or reverse positions; a switch position repeating relay; energizing circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed when and only when said switch contacts for each track switch and said control relay contacts for each switch machine assume corresponding normal or reverse positions; and shunt circuits for said switch position repeating relay closed whenever any of said switch contacts assume mid-stroke positions or whenever any of said control relay contacts are out-of-correspondence with their respective switch contacts; said shunt circuits being at times included in part in said energizing circuits for said switch position repeating relay.

9. In a control and indication system for railroads; a plurality of track switches; a switch contact mechanism associated with each switch and operable to normal and reverse positions to reflect the positions of its respective switch; a control relay for each of said track switches, each of said control relays having control contacts for governing its corresponding track switch and indicating contacts for reflecting the position of its respective control relay; an indication relay; a source of energy; and circuit means for energizing said indication relay from said source only when the indication contacts of all of said control relays and said switch contacts are in corresponding positions, said means including only three wire-s successively interconnecting said indication contacts of said control relays and said switch contact mechanisms.

10. In a control and indication control for railroads, a plurality of track switches, switch contacts associated with each track switch and operable to normal and reverse positions in correspondence therewith; av control relay for governing each track switch and provided with contacts operable to normal and reverse positions; and circuit means connecting said indication relay, said switch contacts of each switch, said contacts of each control relay for each switch, and said current source all in series, said circuit means having only three wires connecting successive contacts in series, and said circuit means eiiecting energization of said indication relay only when all said contacts in the series are in corresponding positions.

11. In combination; a plurality of trafiic governing devices; a plurality of contact mechanisms having normal and reverse positions, each mechanism being associated with one of said traffic governing devices, said plurality of contact mechanisms being more than two; an indication relay; and means energizing said indication relay only when all of said plurality of contact mechanisms are in corresponding positions, said means including a source of energy and a number of interconnecting wires for successive pairs of said contact mechanisms which number of wires is less than four.

GEORGE H. WION. 

